Understanding phenomenological experiences of autistic inertia using online community discourse

TL;DR

This study explores Autistic inertia through online community discussions, revealing its cyclical nature, fatigue, and coping strategies.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into Autistic inertia using large-scale online discourse analysis.

Findings

Autistic inertia is cyclical and often leads to fatigue.

It interacts with other co-occurring conditions.

Reddit users employ varied strategies to manage inertia.

Abstract

The term ‘inertia’ refers to the seemingly common Autistic experience of remaining in a state of rest or a state of motion until there is some form of external intervention. While a heavily discussed phenomenon in the Autistic community, it has been scarcely acknowledged in the academic literature. The present study aimed to advance knowledge of Autistic inertia by analysing a large qualitative sample of naturalistic discourse on the topic from Autistic online communities on the social media platform, ‘Reddit’. We identified 501 relevant posts shared between 2005 and 2023, including 9,955 comments. We analysed the posts using reflexive thematic analysis with an inductive approach. We identified four themes, centred on the “all or nothing” extremes of inertia (Theme 1), the range of factors that intersect with and exacerbate it (Theme 2), its joyful and often highly-disabling impacts (Theme 3), and the varied ways in which Reddit users manage it (Theme 4). Our findings corroborated those from existing interview-based studies and also uncovered additional insights, elaborating on ‘the vicious cycle’ of inertia, its fatiguing effects and its interaction with other commonly co-occurring conditions. We discuss these less-reported experiences and identify what we know - and are still yet to understand - about the key features of Autistic inertia.

Analysing 501 Reddit posts, this study reveals the cyclical nature of Autistic inertia, its fatiguing effects, links to co-occurring conditions, and coping strategies – moving closer to a formal definition and highlighting urgent research and support needs.

Figures